Piston and valve-operating mechanism for water-motors



AP. F. SCHNEIDER. msnm AND VALVE OPERATING. mEcHAmsm Foa WATER moons.

APPLICATION FItED MAY 2 0l |918. n

Patenfsd- Fb. 22, 1921.

wil-nc as.

PETER F. SCHNEIDER, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN. y

IPISTON AND VALVE-OPERATING MECHANISM FORY WATER-MOTORS.

Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1,921.

Application led May 20, 1918. Serial No. 235,532.

gan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Piston and Valve-Operating Mechanism for Vater-Motors, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to pistons and valve operating mechanism for water motors, and its object is to provide a piston and valve operating mechanism that is simple in construction and eflicient in operation and -in which the construction is of a character to allow the use of a comparatively long coiled spring to secure the required movement of the valve operating part, and further to provide a valve operating mechanism in which the extent of compression of the spring may be adjustably limited thus avoiding compression of the spring to such extent that breakage may occur and to vary. the initial tension thereof. These Vseveral objects and the novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of the water motor showing my improved valve operating mechanism and piston.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a piston and valve operating mechanism carried thereby.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the device for adjusting the spring tension. V

ig. 4 is a vertical section of the valve mechanism.

In water motors of theV character here shown two cylinders 1 and2 are provided on opposite sides of a central portion 3 having chambers into which leads an intake 5 and an outlet 4 respectively for the water. Each cylinder is closed at the bottom asis shown with the cylinderQ by means of the wall 6 of the portion 3 which wallis apervalves 7 and 8.l VThese valves are connected on the interior of each cylinder by means of a plate or bar 9 connected with the stems of the valves. The valves are seatedin the position of parts shown in Fig. 1 and by pressing centrally on the plate 9 behind the valves, the ports 8 and '7 are opened allowing water to How into the cylinder through l the port 7 to force the 'piston outward in the cylinder and ori-reverse movement discharge water through the port controlled by the valve 8. The pistons 10 of the two cylinders are similar in construction and are connected together by a bar 11 which isattached to the ends of each piston `rod 12 bv means of a bolt 18 extending into the rod. The motor here shown isa type used vwith washing machines and the mechanism to be operated by the piston is connected to this bar 11 (not here shown). J

The motor described is in all respects similar to motors now commonly in use for this purpose.. APistons have also been provided with a'projecting stem of the character shownrat 14 although differing in this respect in that the stem is short and held in position by a very short spring capable of but little compression. Such springs frequently break in the operation of the motor and prevent eilicient operation Ythereof in that the valves will only open by spring pressure when the water has less pressure. This invention seeks to provide a long spring that is flexible in character having considerable rangeV of tension arid yet limited as to the extent of compression in order that the spring may not be unduly compressed in a manner to cause breakage andrfurther operating the valves under various pressure of water. To

' accomplish this the piston rodis madehollow as shown in Fig. 2 and at the endthereof is provided a flexible piston member 15 i engaging the cylinder wally and inclined toward the valve end of the cylinder. Water being admitted into the cylinder tends to expand theflexible portion 15 of the piston and prevent leakage of water between the piston and cylinder. This piston member 15 is held in position by a nut 16 whichhas a central aperture through which the stem 14 projects.

In my invention this stem is provided with a cylindrical portion 17 riding in the interior of the .rod 12 ofthe piston and being preferably. provided Vwith two portions tured to receive the intake and discharge 19 and 20 slightly greater indiameter than the body contacting the walls of the rod and being of comparatively small surfacer the friction is reduced to a minimum. The portion 19, for instance, provides aA shoulder against which. the coiled spring 21. engages in the cylinder 2 for instance, caused by.

outward movement of the piston in the cylinder 1 the valve operating stem 14 (as the piston 1() in the cylinder 2 approaches the bottom of the cylinder) engages the valve plate 9 opening the normally closed inlet valve for the cylinder 2 and closing the said valve for the cylinder 1. During the intake stroke of the piston 10 the water in the cylinder passes outward through the outlet valve Sand these valves 7 and 8 control the intake and outlet ports of both cylinders when closed to one, being open to the other which construction is well known'.

It is to be noted that on the inward stroke of thev piston 10 the stem 11i engages the plate 9 loosely connecting the valves together and that the inlet valve 7 is opened when the tension of the spring controlling the stem 14 becomes greater than the pressure of the water holding the valve closed. It is this function that is obtained in the construction here shown with the long coiled spring that is impossible of achievement by the older types having short springs. As there is considerable variation possible in the tension of the spring prior to attaining the limit of compression, the water motor may be placed in one part of the city in which the pressure is high and operate efficiently and may be moved from there to other portions of the city where theO pressure is much lower and still operate fully as efliciently without necessity of adjusting the parts. Y

I prefer to limit the movement of the stem by` means of a rod 22 provided centrally within the coiled spring 21. This rod is somewhat'less in length than the length of the' spring but is preferably of such length that, prior to the spring being compressed with the coils in contact one with the other,

the outer end of the rod will be engaged byV the end of the bolt 13 threaded in the stem 12 of the valve and thus prevent an undue compression ofthe spring. o In order that the initialftension of the spring may be varied VI have provided the bolt with an adjustable end member 23 cylindrical inV form and slidable within the hollow stem 12. This member 23 is provided with a stem 24 inthreadedrelation with a central aperture extending longitudinally of the bolt 13. This stem may berprovided with a screw lhead 25V at the outer end of the bolt by means of which the position of the member 23 may be varied relative to the bolt and thus vary the initial tension of the spring. The rod 22 heretofore mentioned is preferably separate from the part 17 for the purpose of cheapness but may be made integral with the part 17 if so desired. By this described arrangement a comparatively long coiled spring may be utilized flexibly supporting the stem and allowing a considerable range of movement of the ste-m 14C whereby the Vdevice is applicable for use under varying` water pressures, and further by providing the adjustable member 23 various initial tensions of the spring 21 may be produced whereby the initial pressure at which the spring will operate the valves may be varied and liability of breakage is reduced to a minimum by reason of the limiting bar or rod 22.l r

Having thus briefly described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A piston and valve operating mecha- I nism for water motors comprising in combination with a piston, a hollow stem therefor, a plunger reciprocable within the stem and extending through the piston, a'coiled spring in the stem normally maintaining the plunger in position, and a bolt in threaded relation with the piston stem and seatspring. Y l

3. piston and valve operating mechanism for water motors comprising vin combination with the piston, a hollow stem or rod, the piston being secured to the rod, a nut thereon for holding the piston in position and closing the end of the stem, the nut having a central aperture, a plunger in the rod having a stem projecting through the aperture, said plunger having a shoulder, a coiled spring seating thereagainst, a bolt or the like threaded in the piston rod .and holding the spring in engagement with the said seat, and means limiting the extent of movement of the plunger in the rod.

4. The combination in a water motor hav- Y ing two oppositely disposed cylinders and pistons and a valve chamber therebetween having inlet and exhaustports for each cylinder and valves reciprocable in the chamber to close first one set of ports and then the other, of' a valve operating mechanism comprising a hollow stem for each piston, a plunger reeiprocable Within the stem and extending through the inner face of the piston, a coiled spring in the stern I ing two Yoppositely disposed cylinders and pistons and a valve chamber therebetween having inlet and exhaust ports for each cylinder and valves reciprooable in the chamber to close rst one set of ports and then the other, of a valve operating mechanism vcate the valves.

comprising a hollow stem for each piston, a

plunger lin each stem reeiprocable therein and having a portion extending through the face of the piston, a coiled spring in the stem normally maintaining the plunger in projected position, means for adjusting the tension of the spring, means limiting the extent of compression of the spring, and a bar in each Vcylinder connecting the stems of the said valves, said bar being adapted to be engaged by the projecting stem to recipro- In testimony whereof I sign this specioation.

PETER E.l SCHNEIDER. 

